Beaver County solicitorsget hefty raise

By Bill Vidonic, Calkins Media

Wednesday

Aug 22, 2007 at 12:01 AM

BEAVER - Three Beaver County solicitors will receive hefty raises after approval by the county's salary board Tuesday.Solicitor Myron Sainovich will receive a 33.5 percent increase, while assistant solicitor Andrea M. Cantelmi-Biondi's salary will increase 33 percent, and assistant solicitor Joseph Askar's salary will rise 56 percent.In a letter to the salary board and Rick Darbut, the county's employee relations director, Sainovich wrote that in the past, county solicitors were limited in their duties, only providing "generic legal advice" to county commissioners.Solicitors rarely defended claims against the county nor did they prosecute claims on behalf of the county, Sainovich added, and outside attorneys were paid hourly rates between $150 and $350.The county has instead been performing legal work in-house, saving the county hundreds of thousands of dollars, Sainovich told the salary board.In his letter, Sainovich wrote, "Our performance of services within the county law offices has contributed to significant savings to Beaver County." Sainovich added that some legal work could be referred to outside attorneys if necessary.Of the three solicitors, only Cantelmi-Biondi works full time and receives health benefits. Askar and Sainovich work 19¼ hours a week, and don't receive health benefits.The raises were approved by salary board members Joe Spanik, chairman of the county commissioners; Commissioner Charlie Camp, Commissioner Dan Donatella and county Controller Rick Towcimak.Bill Vidonic can be reached online at bvidonic@timesonline.com.